Rock-drilling mechanism



, 1930. 'r. R. E. RUNDQVIST ROCK DRILLING MECHANISM .Aug. 26

Filed Oct. 12, 1 923 2 Sheets-Sheet l ZZ/ J37 Patented Aug. 2 6, .1930

UNITED STATES'PATENT. OFFICE 'rHonE n. E. RUNnovIs'r, or cLAnEMoN'r, NEW narrrsnmn, Assronon 'ro SULLIVAN -MACHINER Y. COMPANY, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS ROCK-DRILLING MECHANISM,

Application filed October 12, 1923.. Serial No. 668,198.

, My invention relates to rock drilling mechanisms.

An object" of my, invention is to provide an improved rock drilling mechanism and more particularly an improved rock drilling mechanism of the pneumatically fed type.

I Another object of my invention is to provide an improved rock drilling-mechanism of the fluid pressure percussive type having imanismand improved controlling mechanism proved fluid pressure operated feeding mechtherefor. A further object of my invention but is to provide an improved fluid pressure percussive rock drilling mechanism of the pneumatically fed type having improved controlling mechanism for the drilling motor and the feeding means. A still further object of my invention is toprovide improved controlling means for a fluid pressure operated rock drilling mechanism of the self feeding type whereby the feeding means and the drilling motormay be simultaneously controlled by. a an operator with'the 'use of but one hand. ;These and 'other objects-and advantages of more fully appear. A

In the accompanying drawings 1 have I shown-for purposes of illustration three my improved mechanism will hereinafter forms which my invention may assume in pract1ce., J

In'these d1'&Wll1gS,-

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partially broken away, showing a drilling mechanism embodying myimproved mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a. transverse sectional view taken substantiallyon'line2- 2 of Fig. 1 with the crating handle shown'swung into the plane Ethe sectionline.

Fig. 3' is a view showingone position of the throttle valve and illustrating sections v taken substantially on lines aa and b-b of controlling valve.

Fi 2. iig. 4 is a similar-view as shown in Fig. 3

with the valve in a diflt'erent position.

Fig. 5 is'a detail sectional view of the feed -Fig.- 6 is a sectional view corresponding to that shown in Fig. 2 showing a modified form of construction. g

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing a further modified form of construction corresponding to that shown in Fig. 2. i

In the first illustrative form of my invention I have shown a rock drilling mechanism of the so-call'ed stoper type generally designated 1 which comprises a drilling motor 2 of the fluid pressure percussive'type adapted to percussively actuate a drill steel 3 carried in the front end of the drilling motor, and a feeding means, generally designated 4, of the fluid pressure operated type. This feeding means comprises a feed cylinder 5 having a feed piston 6 reciproca'ble therein. The feed piston is provided with a piston rod 7 and an abutment engaging point 8 adapted to engage a stationary extraneous abutment during the; drilling operation. As the drilling motor, acting through the drillsteel 3, deepens the hole the cylinder 5 moves upward relative to th' piston 6. The drilling motor not present.

Disposed in a conical bore 12 in a boss 13 formed on the head block 10 is a throttle valve 14 of conical shape. This valve 14 is 'tate the drill steel if automatic rotation is hollowed. out, as at 15, and this hollowed out portion communicates, with the fluid pressure supply which is admittedto the throttle valveby means of a 'swiveled hose connec-- tion 16 from any suitable source. Suitably secured to a conical portion 17 formed inte- A gral with the valve 14, herein by a bolt connection 18, is an operating handle, generally designated 19, which incorporates improved feed controlling mechanism hereinafter more fully described. A dowel pin 18' engages a flattened portion formed on the conical por ersing the wall of the throttle valve is a port20 which is adapted to communicate with a passage 21 through which port fluid I tion 17 thereby positioning the handle. Trav tending parallel with the axis of the throttle valve is a passage 22 which communicates, under the control of a feed control valve generally designated 23 of improved form, with the lower end of a bore or chamber 24 formed coaxially within the handle. Com- I municating with this chamberis a passage 25 disposed parallel with the passage 22 which in turn is adapted to communicate by means of a c-ircumferentially extending groove 26, with a port 27 leading to the interior of the feed cylinder 5. It will herein be noted that usual means is provided for venting the interior of the feed cylinder to atmosphere when the throttle valve is in its closed position (see Fig. 3) and such means comprises a groove 26in the valve adapted to .connect a vent 27 in the boss 13 with the feed I port 27. Furthermore, the bore or chamber 24 has a valve stem or pin 28 reciprocably mounted therein on which the valve 23 is formed. This valve is provided with aconical head 29 which is adapted to register with a conical seat 29 and is laterally cut away-or slotted as at 30 at a pluralityof diametrically opposite points to permit a sensitive graduation of the feed and to preventjumping of the drillcausedby a sudden; admission of fluid pressure tothe feed cylinder. The valve stem 28 is provided with a collar 31 which is adapted to engaged by a slidable sleeve 32 disposed in an enlarged bore 33 which forms a continuation of the bore 24. This sleeve 32 has an operating member or push button 34 suitably secured thereto as at' 35,

herein by. the peening or heading over of the. solidportion formed on the outer extremity of the sleeve32. This push button is providcd with a flanged cylindrical depending portion 36 whichhas a sliding fit with the outer periphery 6f the handle 19 thereby preventing foreign matter from entering the working parts of the valve. The sleeve 32 is pro Y vided with a slot 37 which engages a pin 38 suitably secured within the handle 19,

. "thereby preventing a derangement of the parts. The upper end of the stein 28 is slidis disposed in the bore of the sleeve is of a sli ably mounted in a cap member 39 which Fluid pressure is adapted to be admitted toya bore 40 formed in this cap member 'by way of a small passage 41 arranged coaxially through the valve stem and which communicates with the bore or'chamber 24, the fluid pressure actin on the peren'd of the valve stem which valve in its wide open position, the cap member 39 engaging-with the pin 38 at thistirhe. These areas are so proportioned as to maintaina constant pressure tending to hold the valve open at al-l'times and thereby cause the valve to be operated more easily as distinguishedfrom a springin which the necessary force to, operate 'increases as the spring is V tly smaller area than the lower. end of the valve stem, thereby holding thecompressed. The bore of the sleeve 32 is vention, afterthe drilling mechanism has been arranged at the desired angle with the point 8 disposed against an abutment a suitable distance from the working face with It will be vhandle portion 43 protects the hand of the operator during the drilling operation.

In the operation of this form of my in the,:operator grasping the supporting handle 11 at this time. the throttle .valve handle '19- may be manipulated, bringing the groove 26 in communication with the port 27 leading to the feed cylinder. Simultaneously the push button. 34 is pressed downwardly by means of a finger or thumb, graduating the amount of pressure fluid admitted to the feed as desired. The valve 14 is then further rotated, bringing the port 203(see Fig. 4) in communication'with the passage 21 lead ing to the drilling motor, thereby percussively actuating the drill steel 3 and spotting the hole. After the holehas been spotted the feed control valve 23 is gradually opened until a full feed is obtained, the pressure acting on the inner end of the valve stem and holding it in this position. If a seam IOI or soft spot is encountered, causing the drill to jump forward, the operator may quickly press the push button 34 downwardly, seating the valve 23and consequently retarding the, feed thereby preventing the possibility of a stuck drill steel.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 6 I have shown a device substantially similar tothat shown in Figs; 1 to 5 except that the feed control valve and balancing meohanismis'arranged coaxially with respect to the valve 14 in a bore 45 which communi- 'cates' with the hollow chamber15 by means of a smallpassage 46. qopening laterally from the chamber or bore 45 is a port 47 communicating with the groove 26 which is- .adapted'to connect the port 27 leading tothe feed. cylinder with the fluid pressure supply. Arranged' within a bore 48 formedin the handle 19 isa lever 49 pivoted at 50 intermediate itsends on the handle. This lever is bifurcated at 51 'atits inner end and en gages a collar-52 formed on a sleeve 53 corresponding to thecsleeve 32. The opposite a slot 54formed inan operating member or push button 55 which is adapted to be recipendof this lever is engaged by the sides of.

rocated in a plane parallelwith the plane of the valve 23 in a grasping portion 56 of the handle 19. A packing" 57 is inserted-in a .is held wide open by means of the fluid pressure actingon the end of the valve stem 28. If a soft spot or seam is encountered the push button 55 is moved to the left, swinging the lever 49 about-its pivot and consequently seating the valve 23 and retarding the feed.

It is clearlyappaient that the throttle valve may be rotated and the feed valve 23 reciprocated simultaneously by but one hand of the operator. e v I In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 7. it will be noted that the feed control valve 23 comprises. a plurality of spaced cable in a bore 62 of stepped diameters formed in a member 63 suitably secured to the throttle valve 14, the head 60. being adapted to be seated on a seatv 64. The "lower end of the bore 62 is vented to the atmosphere by way ofa small port 65. Suitably connected to the head 60, as at 66, is a flexible operating member or shaft 67 which is preferably in the form of a spring having contacting coils and which is possessed of considerable stiffness and yet has the requisite flexibility desired, thereby permitting operation of the valve even if the handle 19 is.

accidentally bent out of -alinement With the bore 62. This member 67 is provided at its pin and slot connection' 69' prevents a derangement of the working parts. It will also be understoodthat the handle 19 is 'herein also preferably provided with an upstanding projection of-the type ofthemembers 43,56.

In the operation of this form of my invention the fluid pressure acting on the larger area of the-head holds the valve 23 in its Wide open position, the operation of the throttle valve 14 being substantially identical to that stated above. If a soft spot or seam is encountered during drilling the push button 68 maybe pressed'downwardly seating thedhead 60 and consequently retarding the As a? result of my improvement .it is ob-I vious that the operator may manipulate the feed'eontrol valve while rotating the throttle valvelwithout removing his hand from the throttle valve control hgndle, It will furtherbe noted that due to the balanced conditionof the feed control valve great ease of operation is obtained, the pressure tendng t hold the, valve open being the same at all .t-im'es and that as. result of this arrangement including the throttle valve handle and the feed control push button, these elements may be simultanenously operated byan operator while using but one hand and without difliculty,-the projection formed on the handle presenting a suitable support for the hand as the handle is turned or while the push button is freely operated. It will still further be noted that a simple compact structure is obtained which may easily be adapted to a drill ofstandard form with the minimum What I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is: heads 60 and 61 of differential areas recipro- 1. In a drilling mechanism, a drilling mo-. tor and feeding means therefor comprising a pneumatic feed cylinder and piston, a main valve for controlling the fluid pressure supply to said motor and said feeding means, an operating member for said main valve, a valve disposed within said operating member for controllingsaid feeding means at will; means acted on by fluid pressure for holding said last mentioned valve in wide open position, and means acted on by fluid pressure for resisting said last mentioned means.

2. In a drilling mechanism, a drilling motor and pneumatic feeding means therefor. a main valve for controlling said motor and said feeding means including a plurality of parallel passages extending longitudinally thereof and having a valve stem projecting therefrom, an operating member secured to the stem of said valve, and means carried by said operating member. for controlling the communication between said passages.

3. In a drilling mechanism, a drilling motor and pneumatic feeding means therefor? a main controlling valve therefor, an operating handle for said valve extending laterally therefrom. and supplemental means for controlling said feeding means including an 7 operating member carried on the end of said main-valve o erating handle. I

4. In a'drilhng mechanism, a drilling mo; tor and pneumatic feeding means therefor, a i

-main" valve for controlling said motor and said feeding means, laterallyextending .op-

erating means for said main valve, and supable push bottonicarried onthe outer end of said-main valve operating means LUU 5. In a drilling mechanism, a fluid'actuated drilling motor, fluid actuated feeding means therefor, means including a throttle valve for controlling the fluid flow to said motor, an operating handle removably secured thereto, and means for controlling the pressure in said feeding means including a valve carried within and reciprocable' longitudinall of said handle.

10 6. In a drilling mechanism, a motor, fluid pressure feeding means therefor, and means for controlling the fluid pressure supply thereto including an operating handle having a supporting portion for the hand of the operator projecting laterally relative thereto between its ends, and a supplemental feed controlling means including an operating push button carried by said handle adjacent said projectin portion.

'w 7. In a dril ing mechanism, a drilling mo tor, a pneumatic feeding means therefor, a mainwalve for controlling the fluid flow to said motor and feeding means, an operating handle therefor, saidvalvehaving a pluralg5 ityfof passages adapted to communicate re-v spectively with said' feeding means and a fluid pressure supply, said passages extending longitudinally through the valve to and communicating with passages in said handle,

and means carried by said handle for controlling communication between said passages in the handle. I i v 8. In a drilling mechanism, a drilling mo- -7 tor and pneumatic feedingmeans therefor, a main valve for controlling fluid flow to said motor and feeding means and having passages therein normally .in communication with each-other and with a fluid pressure supplyv and said feeding means respectively,

40 a manually operable secondary valve for con- .7

trolling communication between said passages having a seat in and adapted to close one of said, passages and means including fine slots in the stem of said valve coo rating, with the other passage for accurate y regulating the fluid flow through said passages .tothefeedingmeans. ,v i w In testimony cwhereof I aflix my signature. THORE BUNDQVIST. 

